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| My treks |
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| Mahabaleshwar |
| Lonavala |
| Matheran |
| Rajamachi |
| Sidhgad |
| Peb |
| Bhimashankar |
| Naneghat-jeevdhan |
| Shivneri |
| Mahuli |
| Harishchandragad |
| Shirdi |
| Prabalgad |
| Siddhgad |
| Peth/Kothligad |
| Gorakhgad |
| Raigad |
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Part 1: Planning This was one of the most awaited trek in my list and Diwali`s vacation was perfect to have this trek. We were four friends (anurag, nikhil, dhilly and me). The plan was very ambitious, so we have planned well. We thought that we`ll get to the bhandardhara by evening and after covering some picnic type spots like Randhava Fall,Wilson Dam etc will cross the lake before night and start the night trek. Part 2: The journey to bhandardhara Due to some reasons we could`nt leave the campus till evening, we set out for kasara station at 7:30 p.m. This was not a very good time to start for a place which lies quite interior to the rail route and highway, but we just started anyway. We reached kasara station by 11:45 pm, abviously we missed the last bus for bhandardara which leaves kasara at 9.00 p.m. We went to highway for lift in truck and after little wait we got that. We sat in the backside of the truck and that part of the journey is like too much. We were just enjoying wind breezing past in the open space. First night out in a Dhaba, We took a truck lift from kasara to ghoti. When we got there, we were enquired by some policemen. I noticed some unusual presence of police force there. The policemen told us that there were communal tension arose and its better for us to stay in a dhaba at highway. We spent some 4 hours in dhaba, just chatting and making one or other way of passing time. The took first bus at 5:30 a.m. for bhandardara. Part 3:The trek(scaling Igatpuri for the first time) We slept almost for the whole journey part to bhandardara. We were sleeping so we missed the actual place (shendi), from where we have to catch ferry at bhandardara lake. Anyway we walked a bit for shendi and from there the lake is about 3 kms away. We reached the lake at about 8 am. The place was very beautiful with splendid view of mountain ranges and the lake. The first ferry arrives at around 9 am. type. The last return ferry available from ratanawadi is at 6 pm. The ferry took 50 mins to get us to the base village. There we first prayed at temple of lord amriteshwar. The temple was splendid despite being 1500 years older. From there the way was quite easy, one have to catch a stream right at the village and traverse along it till a clear path leads to the mountain. We took 2 hrs to reach the top. The entrance of the ratangad was very fascinating and one of the touchest one. But now there are stairways to lead to the door. When we reached the top, the sun was right on top. So we did`t visit much of the fort. The surroundings were as usual inexplainable in words. We stayed there till 3 pm. We reached the base village at 4:30 and were very exhausted. We slept in the temple premises for an hour. By the time ruhela has started worrying about the boat. The boat has`nt arrived yet. At 6 pm, when we asked the villagers about the boat they suggested to better to go to their home instead of waiting any more. Their home was nearby. On boat ride in the evening was one thing that does not happens many time in life, the moments in boat were so special with beautiful surrounding and the moments of sun set added by setting fire crackers on in the sky. Simply superb. Part 4: Return(a blunder happened) By 7 pm, we were on the other side of the lake. There was dark and we were running short of time as the last bus was at 8 pm and we had to get to the main road before that. While catching the main road we by chance got split into two group. We somehow managed to get on the main road. And then happened one of the most bizzare event in my life. We were speeding up for the bus station in groups of two. I was with ruhela. When we got to the main route, we turned back and to our great amazement we found them nowhere. We wait there for some time thinking that they`ll be back in moments. We let the bus passed away because we can`t leave the other two behind. We were so shocked by there dissappearence that we even went to police station after searching for them for 2 hours. But luckily the thanedaar saab were sleeping. So we came back and thus luckily did`nt had to go through any legal hackles. Second night out, The time was already 12:30 am and we somehow managed to tell ourself that they will be safe somewhere. We took the dinner and slept outside of the same hotel. We were at the highest place in the Maharashtra and were without any proper means to have some descent sleep. Rest of the night tried to give us some sleep in the very cold night at the highest place in maharshtra. Occasiionaly we enjoy the bone fire made by local people at the bus station. They were very funny and despite of the very humble living they looked very lively. At 5:30 morning we got to the first bus and was in the campus by 9:30. Later we found that the other two parteners had been to the 8 pm last bus and after several hitch hiking finally been back to campus only 30 mins earlier to us. A great and bizzare blunder have been comiitted by us but thats the part of journey. One has trully said that when time goes wrong, the wrong goes going. Atlast we all were finally safe and thats all we wanted at the end. |